If you are looking for a swimming class for your children, then good for you. Whether or not you have a pool or live near a body of water, every child should learn to swim. Drowning statistics for children are sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 26 percent of all children ages 1-4 who died in 2004 drowned. For the 1-14 age group, the second leading cause of death was unintentional drowning. For more information, check the CDC’s website at cdc.gov. Although swimming classes are not a drown-proof solutions, you can help your children beat the odds by providing them with adequate swimming lessons.

Who Should Learn to Swim?Some kids are naturally drawn to water. They will dip their hands in bird baths, ask to wade in fountains and willingly jump into the pool when you promise you will catch them. These are the children you have to sit on whenever a puddle is in sight. Get them to a swim class fast! The sooner they are taught a healthy respect for water, the easier you can breathe. Swimming class will not only teach them to swim, but they will learn safety rules for how to behave around the pool (no running), what to do when they accidentally fall in and eventually, how to tread water when they cannot touch the bottom with their feet.

You would think you could trust the scaredy-cat kids around water because they are the ones who start to scream at the sight of a pool. These kids need swimming lessons just as much as the water babies. Do not expect them to lose their fear of water on their own.

Are you a non-swimmer? Do you live in the Midwest, far from the ocean and miles from lakes and rivers, with no plans to go jump in anytime soon? If so, please consider taking a swimming class yourself. At the very least, make your kids take a swim class. Sadly, only 13 percent of children from non-swimming households will learn to swim. Your kids may one day be in a situation where all of their friends are swimming,and peer pressure may convince them to join in. What if there are drugs and alcohol included? What if no lifeguards or responsible adults are present to rescue them from a bad situation? No, swimming classes cannot prevent senseless accidents or mistakes, but you can take that one simple and very important step toward safety by having them learn how to swim.

What is the Best Age to Start?The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children are not ready for swimming lessons until age 4. Developmentally, infants and toddlers are not ready to fully comprehend water safety skills, so providing swimming class for these ages should be viewed as an enjoyable activity and a preparation for future swimming skills. Parents should never depend on these classes to make their children independent in or around the water.

With that said, don’t get discouraged from signing your child up for a swim class. The skills kids learn, even at that young of an age, could potentially save their lives.

You cannot let them out of your sight, but accidents do happen. Even the most diligent parents experience tragedy; most kids who drown in a pool, for example, are out of sight and in trouble within a few short minutes, if not seconds. In most cases, one or both parents were in the home.

The AAP does recommend swimming lessons for kids ages four and up. If your child has reached a fifth or even sixth birthday without ever having any swimming instruction, it is time to make a plan. First, rule out any medical reasons to wait, such as respiratory difficulties. If the doctor gives an all-clear, get the child enrolled in a class.

Swim Class OptionsParent-child swim lessons — Lessons are offered for children and at least one parent. These lessons are not designed to teach the parent how to swim; the parent should already be confident in the water. The ages of the child differ depending on the class; the YMCA offers “Skippers” and “Perch” courses for children from 6 months to 3 years of age. The Perch course slowly phases out the parental participation, so that by the end of the course the parent is sitting at the pool’s edge. Styles of parent-child courses will differ depending on the instructor.

Group swim lessons — Traditionally, swim classes have been taught in groups at public pools, the YMCA or at a swim instructor’s private pool at his or her home.

Group lessons can include kids who have never swum before. The instructor will place your child in a class appropriate for his or her swimming level, not necessarily by age. Kids benefit from this type of setting by watching each other. If your kids take lessons with established friends, learning to swim can even be fun.

Private swim lessons — Professional swim instructors offer one-on-one lessons in a private or community pool. The benefits are obvious: your child gets individual attention and will likely benefit from an expert who can correct the student’s mistakes before they become bad habits. Adults prefer private swim lessons to escape the embarrassment of overcoming their lifelong fears.

What to Look for in a Swimming Class

The instructor should have current certifications for Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or Water Safety Aid (WSA). Also look for certifications in CPR, first aid and lifeguard training.

A proper instructor to student ratio when parents are not part of the lesson. Look for a 1-to-5 ratio or better. A 1-to-6 ratio is common for more confident swimmers.

The class should be focused on safety. Young children should be taught to be safe in and around the pool. More advanced classes might include boat safety and basic rescue skills.

A clean, heated pool and well-kept facilities. The deck around the pool should be a slip-resistant surface.

Fun activities as part of the lesson. Your kids will enjoy the learning process more if games are used to teach some of these new and difficult skills.

Additional Tips Before you Decide:

Be sure to explore your options and ask plenty of questions. Settle on the class that agrees with your own philosophy and comfort. You may not enjoy the course if you do not agree with the instructor’s teaching methods. Ask if you can preview other lessons before you sign up.

If your child has a fear of water, there are different ways to approach it. Some instructors believe you should encourage a child to try new skills without forcing them. Preschoolers may fear water even more if they are forced to swim. Other instructors believe it will not help the child to give in to his fears; their philosophy is to coach him through the fear. Talk with several instructors until you find one whose methods will be just right for your child. Private lessons would be ideal until the fear is under control.

There are many places to look for swim lessons: YMCA, Red Cross, neighborhood pools, country clubs, community aquatic centers, hotels and your own swimming pool (with the help of a professional). With all of those choices you should be able to find a qualified swimming class for your kids – or yourself. Worried about the money? Lessons are generally very affordable. Swimming classes are not just a summer activity. When it comes to learning a basic life survival skill, it is better not to skimp and just jump in.

What's Your Pool Safety IQ?Swimming pool safety is important to any parent. Having the right tools, such as a pool safety fence and pool safety covers are essential. How much do you know about child pool safety? Are your kids safe in the pool? Test your pool safety IQ with this quiz and learn how to keep your children safe in and around swimming pools.